Former Intel chief Craig Barrett to become ITLG chairman

The Silicon Valley-based Irish Technology Leadership Group announced at Stanford University Tuesday that former chairman and CEO of Intel Corporation, Craig Barrett, will become the group’s chairman effective immediately.

Barrett has previously been honored by the ITLG for his unwavering commitment over a 20-year year period to technology innovation in Ireland where Intel’s $7 billion investment directly supports 4,000 jobs.

The announcement of Barrett’s appointment was immediately welcomed by members of the ITLG’s advisory board and other senior Irish American business leaders at a lunch in Barrett’s honor at the Stanford University Faculty Club.

Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin, welcomed the appointment on behalf of the Irish Government as “a huge milestone in the development of Ireland’s relationship with its economic Diaspora.”

Praising the work of the ITLG, Martin said "the ITLG is a dynamic organization that in the space of only two years has offered invaluable opportunities and advice to Irish companies to expand and develop in the United States. Led by a group of young and innovative Irish entrepreneurs, the ITLG has been particularly successful in addressing and maximizing the potential of the global Irish and played an important role at this year's inaugural Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin. In recognition of their exciting development plans, the Government is pleased to have provided financial support to the organization".

Established in 2007, the ITLG is a non-profit independent organization comprising a number of high-level technology leaders in Silicon Valley who are Irish or Irish-American. The ITLG’s management team includes senior executives from some of the Valley’s leading corporations who are committed to helping Ireland embrace new technology opportunities globally.

Commenting on his appointment, Barrett said “Ireland’s success in the 21st Century depends on its ability to invest in education and research and development and then provide the right environment to promote investment in innovation. The ITLG exists to bring the experience and expertise of Silicon Valley to Ireland in making these investments. I look forward to working with the ITLG, with industry, and with governments north and south in Ireland to create an environment for success.”

The ITLG’s CEO, John Hartnett, said “When 160 business leaders from the Irish economic Diaspora met at a summit in Ireland in September, Craig Barrett presented a candid analysis and a compelling call to action for investment in Irish innovation. Today, he underscores that with a phenomenal personal commitment to ITLG’s mission to forge even deeper links between Silicon Valley and Irish technology in support of the next generation of Irish innovators.

Hartnett continued: “The ITLG is also enormously grateful for the on-going support and encouragement of the Irish Government in general, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and his Department in particular. Last September, the ITLG management team was honored to be invited by Micheal Martin to the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin. With Dr. Barrett’s appointment today, the Irish economic Diaspora is taking a giant step towards realization of one of the key goals of that Forum – the rekindling of the Irish economy through investment in innovation.”

Since its foundation in 2007, the ITLG has undertaken a comprehensive program of work that has included evaluations of over 100 Irish start-up companies by Silicon Valley experts in technology, venture capital and business development. Expert delegations from Silicon Valley have visited both Dublin and Belfast to conduct the company evaluations in face-to-face workshops. The group has also enjoyed substantial support for its evaluation and mentoring program of Irish start-ups from leading Silicon Valley technology companies, as well as public endorsements from the governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.